Briton faces murder charge after two co-workers shot in 'squabble'

Published on Sunday 9 August 2009 21:59

A FORMER Royal Marine with family in Scotland has been shot dead in Iraq, allegedly by one of his own colleagues.

British security contractor Paul McGuigan, 37, was killed along with Darren Hoare, an Australian co-worker during a "squabble" yesterday. Mr McGuigan has family living in the Peeblesshire area.

Another Briton, Danny Fitzsimons, is being held by Iraqi police on suspicion of murdering Mr McGuigan and Mr Hoare, days after he rejoined security firm ArmorGroup Iraq.

Interior ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul-Kareem Khalaf said Mr Fitzsimons could face the death penalty if found guilty of the shooting.

He and the two men who died had been drinking earlier in the day in the International Zone when an argument broke out, it was reported. Maj-Gen Khalaf said: "(Mr Fitzsimons] tried to run away, but he was then arrested. He's now in Iraqi police custody and he will be tried under Iraqi law, which could result in execution."

A witness to the fight told a newspaper: "They were all very drunk and started shouting at each other. They had a big argument and suddenly (Mr Fitzsimons] pulled out a gun and shot his two friends.

"An Iraqi was standing behind him and tried to take away the gun," the witness went on. "But he turned around and shot him … Then he ran away."

A ArmorGroup spokesman, Patrick Toyne-Sewell, said Mr McGuigan left the Royal Marines in 1997 and joined the security firm in late 2003. He headed the team tasked with personal security. Mr McGuigan has a parent still living in Scotland and is separated from his wife.

The spokesman said that Mr Fitzsimons had worked as a contractor for various companies in Iraq since 2004 and last year "took some time out", before returning.

Mr Fitzsimons could become the first westerner to face an Iraqi trial on murder charges since an agreement giving foreign workers immunity was lifted.

Mr Fitzsimons is also accused of wounding the Iraqi as he tried to flee the scene of the attack in the International Zone yesterday morning.

An Iraqi military spokesman, Maj-Gen Qassim al-Moussawi, said: "It started as a squabble. The suspect is facing a premeditated murder charge. The matter is now in the hands of Iraqi justice."

The Foreign Office said two Britons were being held in custody, but this was dismissed by Iraqi officials.

ArmorGroup Iraq released a statement, which said: "I can confirm the deaths of two ArmorGroup Iraq employees in the early hours of this morning in a firearms incident in the International Zone in Baghdad.

"The two men were Paul McGuigan, a British national, and Darren Hoare, an Australian national.

"Their next of kin have been informed, and we are supporting them as much as we can in these tragic circumstances.

"We are working closely with the Iraqi authorities to investigate the circumstances of their deaths."